During this time Yates also worked as session musician for Brand New Heavies, Supergrass, Black Grape, Lighthouse Family, Alison Moyet, Will Young, Raw Stylus, Suggs, Matt Bianco, Robbie Williams and Rhian Benson.

Yates was a featured solo artist in Belfast Open House Festival's "Trad with a Difference" evening as the only person ever to successfully interpret Irish traditional styles onto the trumpet.

Yates later formed the band e2K, a group influenced by jazz, English folksong, Irish melodies and rhythms from Ghana (West Africa).

[2] Yates was a featured soloist in the Manchester Jazz Festival 2005 special commission alongside pianist John Taylor.

[5] Yates currently lectures in jazz trumpet and improvisation at Leeds College of Music, where he directs the LCoM Big Band, and at Salford University.